Velocipede



(No Model.) y vheecs-sneet 1.

E. G. F. OTTU.

VBLOGIPEDE. Patented Aug. 23, 1881.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. C. F. OTTO.

v vELooIPE-DE.

(No Model.)

n gatented Aug. 23,1881.

' (No Model.) 7 sheets-sheet 3.'

E. C. F. OTTO.

l VBLQGIPBDE. No. 246,031. l Patented Aug. 23,1881.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

w 1, odels (No M E. C. F. OTTO.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 246,031. Patented Aug.'23,1881.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. C. F. OTTO.

VBLOGIPBDE.

No. 246,031. APafented Aug. 23,1881.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

VBLOGIPEDE.

Patented Aug. 23, 1881.

VELOGIPBDB. l

No. 246,031. Patented Aug. 23,1881.

UnitaN raras PATENT arten.

EDOUARD G. F. OTTO, OF IEOKHAM, COUNTYv OF SURREY, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of ALetters Patent No. 246,031, dated August 23, 1881.

Application filed June G, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England October 19, 18H0.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDOUARD CARL FRIED- RICH O'ITo, ot' Peckham, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented new useful Improvements in Velocipedes, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain bearing date19th,,October, 1880, No. 4257,) of which the following is a specification.

In the specification of my United States patent application dated June 10, 1880, I have described a novel mode of and means for balancing a rider seated between two wheels and above their center. Now, the object ot' this present invention is to adapt the same improvement 1o a vehicle consisting of only one wheel, the rider being seated above it, and also to adapt it to a kind of bicycle.

Figure 1 is a side viewvof a unicycle constructed according to this invention, and Fig, 2 a front view of same. Fig. 1a' is a perspective view ot' the machine with arider thereon, whereby the proportions of the'unicycle aremore clearly seen.

The road -wheel A is comparatively small and light; it may, however, be made witha comparative wide rim or tire,for the purpose of facilitating the mounting and balancing'. On each side of its center I fix a small flanged pulley, B, and on a lower continuation, C', of the fork-lever C, (which continuation C,I pre fer to make forked,) I arrange on cach side a treadle-spindle, D, with lia-nge-pulley E, treadle-crank D', and treadle D2, by preference, as shown here, provided with foot-strap D3, Fig. 2. The propelling-power is transmitted from` the flange-pulleys E to the road-wheel pulleys B by meansof bands or chains, the pulleys being correspondingly formed with projections or recesses or otherwise, so as to prevent all slip between pulleys and bands or chains. I prefer to use a peculiar kind of band which will be described further on with reference to Figs. 12 to 17.

The driving-pulleys E are of a` larger diameter than the driven pulleys B on the axis or hub ofthe road or main wheel A, for the purpose of increasing the speed of the machine equal to that of an ordinary bicycle, but with a less number of revolutions of the crank and a less expenditure of propelling force.

The forks C, carrying the pulleys E, are eX- tended backward into a forked backbone or back rest, C2, which terminates at the rear of the wheel A, carrying a smallroller. This back rest assists the rider in mounting, and is also useful for steadying the machine when used by beginners 5 but this machine may also be made and used without such backbone or back rest, C2. The top ot' the fork carries the handles, as well as the rider-s seat or saddle.

The spring G is pivoted at G tothe top part ofthe fork (1,(more clearly seen in plan at Fig. 3.) H are the handles. On a lower extension thereof is a tooth, h, engaging with a corresponding notch in the t'ore part of the spring G, so that by the movement of the handles in the direction in which the machineis required to go the spring G, together with the riders seat, will turn either one way or the other, as desired, as shownin dotted lines, and thus, by the assistance of the weight and balance ofthe rider, the machine will be directed either tothe right or to the left or travel in a straight course. The rider has perfect control ofthe machine when mounted and with his feet upon the pedals, as is the case with the Otto safety-bicycle, described by me in the patent application aforesaid, of which patentthe present invention may be said more especially to be a development or improvement.

Fig. et is an elevation of a modified form of nnicycle, in which no back rest, C2, is shown. The lower coutinuations, C', of the fork O are here made diverging in opposite directions therefrom, the treadle-spindles D heilig otherwise arranged and driven in a similar manner. It will be seen that the rider in this case will have to sit more forward, and this position may be obtained by slanting the fork C, or by shitting the saddle into a more forward position, the fork O remaining about vertical, as shown. y Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a unicycle with out a-back rest, C2, and with both the lower eontinuations C of the fork in the same direction. This unicycle may, however, be made with such a back rest, U2, as shown in the part view, Fig. 6.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a side view, and in Fig. 8 an end view, of a bicycle constructed according to this invention. It is fitted with a swiveling trailing wheel, I, at the lower end IOO of the backbone G2. This part is shown about full size in side View in Fig. 9, and in end view in Fig. 10. The fork-piece K, carrying the wheel I, is constructed somewhat similar to that described in the specification of my patent application liled June 10, 1880. It can swivel on a pivot, I', which has an extension, I2, that can swivel in the opposite direction in an eye formed at the lower junction of thefork end of the backbone G2, and the extension IZ of the pivot I' is formed with a square part, on which is titted a bracket, Ii,which, by means ot' a rod, M, is connected to the fork-piece K.

WThe rod M carries an india-rubber or other buffer-spring. N, between two 'washers, N. As the wheel I rises and falls to the inequalities of the road, turning on the pivot I', it compresses the buffer-spring N, which latter thus takes up thejar; but the trailing wheel Iserves also for steering, and for this purpose I connect two cords or wires, O, (by preference music-wire,) to the eye-shaped ends ofthe pin or pivot I', the wires O passing up along the inside of the fork C C and winding in opposite directions two or more times around each side of the handle H. By turning the latter in onedirectioii or the other the trailing-wheel I is canted toward one side or the other.

Fig. 11 is a part view, showing a usual form of brake which may be used against thetop of the road-wheel A. V The handle or lever P, turning on a fulcruin-pin, Pf, is connected to the upper arm, Q, of the brake-lever Q. I have also here shown iii dotted lines a detachable back extension, Q2, connected to the backbone or projection on ihc top of the fork G. This back extension carries a caster when used as a unicycle, but when used as a bicycle it may carry a trailing wheel, and need not be detachable.

It is evidently important, in this kind of unicycle or bicycle, that there be no slip in the driving band or chain in case of any undue or sudden strain, for in that case the relative position of the pedals or cranks would be shifted or altered. A chain may be used to connect the pulleys B and E, but a chain causes undue friction. A thin steel band, such as I have described in connection with my bicycle in my pending patent application tiled November 18, 1S0, would, it' used with Bange-pulleys, as therein described, require to be kept very tight, in order to prevent possibility ot slipping, and this tightness would involve undue friction of the revolving parts. Hence I adapt my patent steel band to this present invention by forming it with any suitable indentations, perforations, or projections on the iiat or on the edge or edges, and I form the grooves of the wheels B and E with corresponding projections or indentations. Fig. 12 shows part of such a steel band, B', having rivets R at regular intervals and applied to a wheel, B, having 2&6035.

correspondingcup-shapeddepressionsB. Fig. 13 is a plan of this band. Fig. 14 is a side view partly in section, and Fig. l5 a plan, ot a band having cup-shaped indentations. The Wheels must in that case have corresponding projections. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 17 a plan, of a band having perforations, the wheels being then formed with corresponding projections. In Fig. 18 I have shown a band with notched edges, thc Wheelllanges being then formed with corresponding but slightly smaller projections, such as little steel pegs driven radially into the wheel along the inside ot' the langes.

If I use my plain liat band without projec- Y tions or indentations or notches, then I make ,g

the wheel groove taper narrower at the bottorn, so as to cause the band to bind between the anges, and I cover the part between the flanges with a soft india-rubber band.

In Fig. 19 I have shown the outline of a unicycle.. in which the treadle-spindles are driven by tooth-wheel gearing-that is, with an intermediate wheel between the wheel on the treadle spindle-wheel and the road-wheel spindle-wheel. This form of unicyclemay,like those previously described, be formed with a back rest, G2, as shown in dotted lilies.

I claim- 1. In a one-wheeled velocipede, with riders seat arranged above the wheel, the fork C, having lower coiitinuations, C', with treadle or pedal spindles, which receive revolving motion without slip from the wheel by means of band or other gearing, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a velocipede. of the Wheel A, fork C, lower continuation, C', back prolongation, C2, and hind or caster wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The handle H, having a tooth, h, gearing with a notch in the seat-spring G, for the purpose of steering the velocipede, substantially as set t'orth.

4. The steering-handle H, having a tooth, h, gearing with a notch iii the seat-spring Gr, in combination with the lateral prolongations of the spindle Il on the pivoted hind-Wheel fork K, having spring-connections L M N, and in combination with the cords or wires O 0, the ends of which are wound on the handle H in opposite directions for steering by the hind Wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a velocipcde, of the Wheel A, treadles D2, band wheels B and E, andnietallic bands It, adapted to interlock with projections on the wheels B E, substantially as set forth.

E. C. F. OTTO.

Witnesses:

G. JENSEN,

33 Chancery Lane, London. JN. DEAN,

17 Gracechurch Street, London.

IOO

IIO. 

